The One Thing You Can Do To Be Happier At Work

Yes, you can be smarter, work more efficiently, stay motivated and get ahead at work. The secret? Exercise! Here are 10 reasons why you need to dial-up your fitness now. Your bonus will be the positive changes to your body. Win. Win!

1. . Overcome obstacles

The first time you ever do a burpee, well, it probably won’t be smooth sailing. But that’s cool because failing to ‘nail it’ is par for the course when it comes to fitness - it's about progress, not perfection. It's a handy mindset for a work environment, too - operate with a growth mindset, where you believe failure is just a tool for learning and talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies and input from others.

Slay obstacles like Libby. Photo: Network Ten

2. Improve your memory

When you break a sweat, the blood pumping around your body literally bathes your brain cells in oxygen and glucose, both of which they need to function effectively. The more oxygen and glucose your cells get, the better they will perform. Take it from clinical psychologist and memory researcher, Thomas Crook, who believes that, “cardiovascular health is more important than any other single factor in preserving and improving learning and memory."

3. Be more positive

When you move your body, the so-called happy hormones - serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin - are released which help reduce tension, increase focus and boost motivation. It's really that simple - exercise for a happiness boost.

What a happy shot. Photo: Lyndon Marceau

4. Increase creativity

Creativity is a buzz word in business and one easy way to increase it is to, say, play a game of basketball or soccer. A recent study suggested regular movement and coordination boosting activities generate new brain cells that in turn boost memory and enhance your ability to imagine future scenarios.

5. Improve discipline

Fitness teaches you that relying on motivation is a fool’s game. Discipline and dedication are what it takes to get ahead, whether it’s in the gym, on the field, or in the boardroom. Bottom line? Your vision only works if you do.

6. Improve outcomes

Exercise like a demon every day and you’ll soon find your energy levels crash and burn. Go for quality over quantity, work hard and stay focused in every session. Always give yourself the proper downtime to recover. That’s when the magic happens. For your work place - it’s about working harder, smarter and focusing on the outcome.

7. Build resilience

No one else can put in the work to increase your fitness levels. It’s you - and a little bit more YOU - who gets the job done then comes back for more the next day. The same goes for work - takes personal responsibility for moving your career. Like the great Rocky Balboa said, “…it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”.

8. Inspire leadership

Think about the leaders you look up to. Are they low-energy, unfit, unhealthy? Or are they fit, driven, confident and passionate? Chances are most leaders you admire belong to the second group. You don’t have to be a champion athlete or have muscles for days, but having a healthy amount of respect for your body, being conscious about nutrition and knowing how to use physical exercise to enhance your state, helps you appear more confident and in control.

Biggest Loser trainer Libby Babet works out0:29

The Biggest Loser's new trainer Libby Babet shows followers one of her training sessions on her Instagram account
Credit: Instagram/libbybabet

December 10th 2016

8 months ago

9. Reduce stress

Exercise is a positive stress and research suggests that just like your muscles grow when regularly challenged, subjecting your mind to positive stressors helps you deal better with the not-so-pleasant kind when they come along.

10. Become more employable

Ever wonder why employers jump at the chance to hire pro athletes? Not only do they know what it takes to win – dedication, hard work, persistence – athletes often possess team building and motivational skills. They have strong work ethics that give them the ability to see projects through to completion. There’s also something magnetic about a fit, healthy, motivated and passionate woman who radiates health – observation and research both suggest they’re irresistible to employers.